Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

A hugely important London Derby headlines a full slate of matches on Saturday as English Premier League leaders Chelsea take on fierce rivals Arsenal in an early-morning showdown.

The Blues enter Saturday atop the EPL table with four wins and a draw in their first five games, but they face a massive test in the Gunners, who despite sitting in fifth place are also unbeaten themselves. Chelsea have been helped out by the news that captain John Terry's four-match ban will not take effect quite yet, meaning he is available for this morning's clash with Arsenal.

Another big match in England sees second-place Manchester United take on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney could feature in the starting lineup for the Red Devils, although they will be without Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia. Meanwhile, Clint Dempsey could get his first crack at a top EPL team since joining Tottenham earlier this season.

In Spain, Barcelona put their perfect record through five games on the line as they travel to take on Sevilla. Barcelona haven't dropped any points this season, but Sevilla are also yet to drop any points at home. Something has to give on Saturday in this massive late-afternoon match.

If you will be watching any of today's games, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

93 Responses to Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

Francois Hollande, the president of France, has said there will be no exceptions to his 75% tax on those earning more than €1 million a year – meaning a host of footballers will have to conform to the new rule.

After reports had suggested that high-earning athletes and artists could be exempted from the tax, Hollande told French television channel TF1 it would be applied to everyone of a certain level of wealth.

He said: “It’s very important that those who are paid more than €1 million are also aware that it should be an example to be a patriot. We have to call on patriotism at this time.”

It is believed that around 25 people at Paris St Germain – whose star summer signing, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is reported to be on around €14 million a year – would be affected.

Others in French football reported to be liable for the new tax include Thiago Silva, Yoann Gourcuff, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Michel Bastos, Lisandro Lopez, Diego Lugano, Thiago Motta and Joey Barton.

reason why Edu may have not gone to France? This may actually open up spots for cheaper players, perhaps MLS types?

Hoffenheim’s 22-year-old right winger Boris Vukcevic was involved in a horrific car crash yesterday when the car he was driving crashed into a truck. He is today still in critical condition and in an artificial coma. The German football association gave a green light for Hoffenheim to cancel the game, but the team voted to play the game in his honor, with the blessing of Vukcevic’s parents. Picture 4 in the story below shows the truck he hit.

Geoff Cameron is really fitting in nicely with The Potters. I’m pleasantly surprised that he is making a quick impact for Stoke. He moves about the field with ease, like he is back at Robertson Stadium instead of the toughest league in the world.

Jump to conclusions much? Do you honestly think that just because Liverpool are in the bottom half of the table six weeks into the season, that means their soundly beating another team effectively condemns that team to relegation? Your logic is stultifying.

Much better than the logic that a team which was winless in 5 games scoring only 4 goals and conceding 10 is secretly a great team and that them scoring more than their entire season total in a single game against another awful team is not significant and relative to how bad that losing team is.

Go ahead and play in whatever fantasy you want. But the reality is that Norwich City is -9 in goal differential through 6 games while conceding on average more than 2 goals a game and scoring only .66 goals a game. Pathetic.

There really isn’t much room for Dempsey to be working in. As evidenced by the goals, the space seems to be down the flanks right now. Dempsey is having to do the dirty work tracking Scholes or Carrick and closing passing lanes. Meanwhile, Scholes and Carrick are guarding the space in front of he backline and giving Deuce no space.

I knew Dempsey would be coming off. He can consider himself very lucky if he doesn’t start on the bench for the next game. His garbage goal did nothing to change the fact that he was easily the worst player on the pitch. Hopefully he will get one more start and the goal will have boosted his confidence enough for him to play better.

I knew Dempsey would be coming off. He can consider himself very lucky if he doesn’t start on the bench for the next game. His garbage goal did nothing to change the fact that he was easily the worst player on the pitch. Hopefully he will get one more start and the goal will have boosted his confidence enough for him to play better.

I saw the last 35 minutes of the game and just about puked on the two bad refereeing calls you mention. I have now lost all respect for Fabregas. Totally disgusting what he did. First he attacks Medel to get the ball and after knocking it loose verbally taunts him and they both are moving toward each other and collide ever so slightly and Fabregas fakes like he was hit with a Zidane head-putt. Should have been a no call, or yellow cards for both, because both were moving forward and equally guilty of the creating the little collision. And the hand ball that was used before the winning goal happened right in front of the ref, who also was letting Barca in the last half hour get away with a lot of fouls. Sevilla looked heartbroken after the loss.